Method of treating teeth for filling.



F. ARMSTRONG.

METHOD OF TREATING TEETH FOR FILLING.

APPLICATION FILED F2118, 1907.

Patented Oct. 27', 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. ARMSTRONG.

METHOD OI TREATING TEETH FOR FILLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. B, 1907.

Patentd Oct. 221908.

3 BHBETF-SHEET 2.

F. ARMSTRONG. METHOD OF TREATING TEETH FORIILLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1907.

Patented Oct. 27,1908.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET WUA/ESSES QM ATTY from touching any portion of the inside of FRANK ARMSTRONG, O1 DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND.

METHOD OF TREATING TEETH FOR FILLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed February 8, 1907. Serial No. 856,345.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK ARMSTRONG, of Dunedin, New Zealand,ha\e invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Teeth for Filling, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a method of treating teeth for filling.

It consists in making a solution containing a lubricator with or without an anesthetic, heating the solution, spraying the solution on the tooth under operation, regulating the velocity of supply of the solution thereby regulating its heat, preventing the solution the mouth of the patient draining it away from the tooth and drilling the tooth in the usual manner while the spraying is proceeding. This method is carried out by an apparatus illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification in which the same numerals of reference indicate the same or similar parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for keeping the moistening agent at a constant temperature and supplying it to the tooth. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional end view of the boiler of same. Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the dam frame placed on a sheet of rubber. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail view showing connection of the two arms of the frame. Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of the completed dam.

The apparatus comprises a suitable stand (1) at the upper end of which are four metal brackets (2) (3) (4) which support a boiler (6) having an inlet (7 provided with a valve (8) and an outlet (9) to which is attached a flexible tube (10) fitted with a dental nozzle (11). Four vertical standards (12) (14) (15) are secured above the boiler (6) one to each of the four corners thereof, and are connected at the top by a metal crosspiece (16). At the head of each of the standards, and on the metal crosspiece (16) are mounted four grooved pulleys (17) (18) (19) (20) over which pass pieces of flexible wire (21) the ends of which are reeved through holes (22) in the metal crosspiece (16) and support the drug receivers (23). The other ends of the wires (21) are formed with a series of loops (24) adapted to engage hooks (25) attached to the standards (12) (13) (14) (15) so as to support the drug receivers in any desired height. To the lower ends of the receivers l (23) are attached flexible tubes (26) of sufficient length to permit connection with the inlet (7) of the boiler (6), the receivers being provided with taps for controlling the supply. The boiler (6) is provided with a funnel (27) for the purpose of filling it, and with a water-gage glass to indicate the water level. On the stand (1) below the boiler (6) is a suitable gas burner (29) supplied with gas by means of a flexible tube (30) connecting a gas main, with the hollow interior of the stand (1) up which the gas passes to the burner. A tlexible pipe (31) is attached to a stand pipe fitted with a valve (33) to provide a supply of water from a water main, the flexible pipe (31) being adapted to connect with the inlet (7). Between the inlet (7) and outlet of the boiler a tube (34) extends, as shown in Fig.

The rubber dam for draining the liquid away and keeping it out of the patients mouth is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The wire frame for the dam comprises two cupped disks (36) with central holes therein the upper disk having a short externally threaded tube (37) (see Fig. 4) integral with it and extending below it. The disk (36) fits round the tube (37) under the disk Attached to one side of the disk (see Fig. are a pair of upwardly extending wire arms (38) provided about midway with a strengthening piece (40) and a projecting piece (41) and joined near their top ends, the wire (38) having a bent end (42). A similar pair of wire arms (43) (44) extend upwards from the disk (36) on the opposite side to the arms (38) (39). From the disk (35) opposite the wires (38) (39) a wire arm (45) extends outwardly and upwardly, this arm (45) having a center extension (46) projecting inwardly. A similar wire (47) with extension (48) extends from the disk The wires (46) (48) have curved ends (59) (60) which cross each other. An internally threaded nipple (49) (see Fig. 4) screws onto the tubular extension (37) of the disk (35) and it will be seen that on loosening the nipple (49) the disks (35) (36) are loosened so that they may be partly revolved to increase or diminish the distance between the pair of wires (38) (39) and the pair (43) (44) so as to adjust the frame to the size of the face of a patient. On tightening up the nipple (49) the disks (35) (36) are clamped together. To form the dam, the frame is adjusted to the width required, and a suitably sized sheet of rubber is taken and perforated near one end so that the end of the nipple (49) may be passed through the perforation and the frame laid on the sheet as shown in Fig. 3. The top end of the sheet is then drawn outwardly and the top corners made to catch on the wire points The sides (52) of the sheet (50) are also drawn out and made to catch on the wire points (41) and (47). The right hand lower corner (54) of the sheet is then folded over and drawn tight and made-to catch on the end of the wire (46) and the left hand lower corner similarly made to catch on the end of the wire (48). The lower edge of the sheet with the slack is then gathered together drawn tight and turned over and made to catch 011 the curved ends of the wires (46) (48), the result being the completion of the dam as indicated in Fig. A flexible tube is attached to the nipple (49) and connected with a waste pipe.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The dam having been formed as above described it is attached to the head of the patient by the ordinary well known strap and catches. The back of the rubber sheet (50) previously perforated at the suitable position according to the tooth to be filled, is stretched back and the tooth brought through the perforation in the usual manner, the rubber being secured on it by a clamp, thread, or other well known means, the tooth thus projecting through the back wall of the rubber sheet. Water having been poured into the boiler (6) of the spraying apparatus and the receivers (23) having been filled with the desired drugs or liquids respectively, the gas burner (29) is lighted to heat the Water in the boiler so as to keep it at boiling point. The flexible tube (26) from the particular receiver (23) containing the drug it is desired to use is then connected to the inlet (7 and the valve (8) opened to allow the liquid to pass through the tube (34) in the boiler out through the outlet 9) and thence to the nozzle (10) by which the tooth is sprayed during or before the operation of drilling, the liquid running out of the dam through the outlet (57) down the tube (56). The velocity of the flow of a drug from a receiver is controlled by adjusting the height of the receiver relatively to the inlet (7). Zlhe'temperature of the drug is controlled by thus controlling its velocity through the tube (10) which controls the time the drug is subjected to the heat applied to the tube 10) by the boiling Water in the boiler (6).

I do not claim the apparatus shown this forms the subject of a co-pending application.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Method of treating teeth which consists in making a suitable solution, heating the solution, spraying the solution on the tooth under operation, regulating the heat of the solution, preventing the solution from touching the inside of the mouth of the patient,

and draining the solution away substan tially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK ARMSTRONG. 

